Screenshots on iPhone: how to take a screen capture
On an iPhone with Face ID, take a screenshot by pressing the side button and the volume-up button at the same time. On models with a Home button, press the Home button and the side (or top) button. A preview appears in the bottom left — tap it to edit, swipe it left to dismiss and save the screenshot. You'll find screenshots in Photos → Albums → Screenshots. In Safari you can save the whole page by choosing Full Page in the editor and exporting it as a PDF. Without buttons, use Back Tap (Settings → Accessibility → Touch) or AssistiveTouch. Screen video is started with the Screen Recording button in Control Centre.
On an iPhone with Face ID, take a screenshot by pressing the side button and the volume-up button at the same time. On models with a Home button, press the Home button and the side (or top) button. A preview appears in the bottom left — tap it to edit, swipe it left to dismiss and save the screenshot. You'll find screenshots in Photos → Albums → Screenshots. In Safari you can save the whole page by choosing Full Page in the editor and exporting it as a PDF. Without buttons, use Back Tap (Settings → Accessibility → Touch) or AssistiveTouch. Screen video is started with the Screen Recording button in Control Centre.
In this article
- Screenshot on an iPhone with Face ID (X and later)
- Screenshot on an iPhone with a Home button
- Screenshot without pressing buttons
- How to save an entire web page, not just the visible part
- Where to find your screenshots and how to manage them
- When you can't take a screenshot
Screenshot on an iPhone with Face ID (X and later)
Applies to all models without a Home button — iPhone X, XR, XS, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17 and the corresponding Pro variants.
1. Open the screen you want to save
The screenshot captures exactly what's currently visible, including the status bar with time and battery.
2. Press the side button and volume-up button together
The side button is on the right, volume is on the top left. Press them together and release immediately — holding them will trigger the power-off menu.
3. The screen flashes
With sound on, you'll hear a shutter click. In silent mode the capture is silent.
4. Tap the preview in the bottom left
This opens the editor, where you can crop, draw, add text or an arrow.
5. Save or share
Done → Save to Photos. Or send it straight on via the Share button. Swiping the preview to the left saves the screenshot without opening it.
Screenshot on an iPhone with a Home button
Applies to all generations of the iPhone SE, the iPhone 8, 8 Plus and older models.
1. Prepare the screen
Same as with Face ID models.
2. Press the Home button and the side button together
On older models with the button on top (iPhone SE 1st generation), it's the combination of Home + the top button.
3. Release both buttons immediately
Holding them longer triggers Siri or the power-off menu.
4. Handle the preview
It appears in the bottom left, behaving identically to newer models.
Screenshot without pressing buttons
Useful when you have a damaged button or are holding the phone one-handed.
- Back Tap: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → Back Tap → Double Tap → Screenshot. Then simply tap the back of the phone twice. Works even through a case.
- AssistiveTouch: Settings → Accessibility → Touch → AssistiveTouch. A floating button appears on the display; add Screenshot to its menu.
- Siri: Say "Take a screenshot". Siri saves the screenshot directly to Photos.
- Control Centre shortcut: Settings → Control Centre → add Screen Recording to capture video of what's happening on the display, including microphone audio after holding down the icon.
How to save an entire web page, not just the visible part
A classic screenshot only captures what's visible. Safari, however, can save the entire page from start to finish.
Take a normal screenshot in Safari and tap the preview. Two tabs appear at the top of the editor: Screen and Full Page. Switch to Full Page and you'll see a scroll bar with a preview of the whole document on the right. Tap Done → Save PDF to Files.
Important detail: the full page is not saved to Photos, but as a PDF in the Files app. If you want an image instead, crop the desired part in the editor before saving.
The feature also works in Mail, Notes and some other apps that support long content.
Where to find your screenshots and how to manage them
Practical tips for organising your captures.
| Screenshots album | Photos → Albums → Media Types → Screenshots. Created automatically, nothing to configure. |
|---|---|
| Searching text within screenshots | Type a word that appears on the screenshot into Photos search. The system recognises text within images and finds the screenshot. |
| Quickly deleting a batch | In the album, tap Select and drag your finger across the thumbnails. Screenshots are the most common needless storage hog on a phone. |
| Anonymising sensitive information | In the editor, use the pen tool over an account number or address. Never use a Blur tool from a third-party app for this, as it can be reversed. |
| Sharing without metadata | When sending, tap Options at the top of the Share sheet and turn off location data sharing. |
When you can't take a screenshot
The most common reasons: a damaged or stuck volume button (the solution is Back Tap or AssistiveTouch), full storage (the screenshot is taken but not saved — free up space under Settings → General → iPhone Storage), and content protection within an app. Streaming and banking apps often block screenshots — the result is a black rectangle. That's not a fault with the phone, but the app developer's intention.
If the buttons don't respond at all, it's usually a mechanical fault. iLoveServis stores will diagnose and replace the button; for phones bought from us, this is covered by the 2-year warranty.
Our range includes pre-owned iPhones with Face ID and with a Home button, each after a hundred-point inspection, with measured battery health of 86–100%, unlocked for all carriers, and with delivery within 2 working days.